Rubbish baling apparatus



P 30, 1969 R. E. WALKER ETAL RUBBISH BALING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 7,

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I.\VE.\'TOR$ ROBERT EMMETT WALKER By DONALD LEE WALKER FE. a.

ATToR A/E% United States Patent US. Cl. 100-215 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rubbish baling apparatus is provided for compressing trash such as cardboard cartons and the like into cubical type bales. The structure includes first and second hydraulically controlled lifting cylinders for moving a platform receiving the trash against a stationary top wall in an enclosure thereby compressing the same into the desired bale. Trash is fed into the enclosure through an hydraulically operated front door which swings outwardly and downwardly for receiving the trash and the bale itself is ejected from an upper rear door. The ejection of the bale is accomplished by employing hydraulic power utilized to operate the front door to in turn swing an ejecting bar mounted in the front wall of the enclosure so that economy is realized in the number of components for the apparatus. In addition, split-flow control members are employed for supplying hydraulic fluid to and from the lifting cylinders so that equal pressures are always assured to prevent canting or jamming of the structure.

This invention relates generally to trash or rubbish baling apparatus and more particularly to certain improvements in the structure and operation of such apparatus.

Most conventional baling apparatus presently used incorporate some type of hydraulic press means for squashing or compressing trash into a cubical shaped type bale. One type of presently known apparatus incorporates two lifting hydraulic cylinders on either side of an enclosure for raising a platform within the enclosure against an upper stationary top wall. Trash is received on the platform through a lower front door and the compressed bale is ejected from the apparatus after the platform has been moved upwardly towards the stationary top wall from an upper rear door. This particular type of arrangement is convenient in that it facilitates loading of the bales on a truck or other conveyance for transporting the bales away from the particular site.

Efli-cient operation of these type of machines has been somewhat limited as a consequence of two factors: first, it is not easy to eject a bale from the machine after the trash or rubbish has been properly compressed. This problem has been solved to some extend by providing additional hydraulic type ram cylinders which will positively eject the bale from the enclosure through the rear door. The provision of additional hydraulic cylinders for this purpose necessarily increases the overall costs of the equipment. Second, it has not always been possible to assure that equal fluid pressures will be applied to the two vertical side cylinders for lifting the platform during the compression operation. If these pressures are not equal, canting of the structure can result with jamming of the platform structure against the side walls of the enclosure. This latter problem may be overcome by adding additional hydraulic controls but again such additions necessarily increase the costs and complexity of the apparatus.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved rubbish baling apparatus in which the above two problems are overcome.

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More particularly, it is an object to provide a rubbish baling apparatus wherein an improved and simplified bale ejecting mechanism is provided without requiring the use of additional hydraulic cylinders over those normally provided to the end that a simplified and less expensive rubbish baler results.

Another important object is to provide a hydraulic line control system for the lifting cylinders effecting compression of the rubbish wherein equal pressures in each of the cylinders is assured at all times so that the risk of canting or jamming of the structure is substantially reduced.

Briefly, these and other objects and advantages of this invention are attained by providing an enclosure including a lower front door and an upper rear exit door. First and second hydraulic cylinders disposed on opposite sides of the enclosure are coupled at their upper ends to a single cross member in turn connected through lift rods to a platform within the enclosure. A third hydraulic cylinder is provided for opening and closing the front door. In accord with a first feature of this invention, the power provided "by the third hydraulic cylinder for opening and closing the front door is utilized through a flexible connecting means to actuate an ejecting mechanism pivotally mounted in the front wall of the enclosure above the door. This ejecting mechanism includes a pivoted ejecting bar having an inner portion which will engage a. compressed bale of trash and an outer portion arranged to be coupled to the upper edge of the door by means of the flexible connection so that operation of the third hydraulic cylinder will pivot the ejection bar and thus eject the bale. The one cylinder thus performs a dual function. In accord with a second feature of the invention, the hydraulic fluid lines connecting to the side lift cylinders are made of equal size and length and terminate in split-flow control members having single inlets. Hydraulic fluid passed to the cylinders from a pump source will thus divide equally and equal pressures will be applied to the cross member and thus the platform structure operated by these cylinders. The hydraulic system is such that only two fluid valve controls are necessary for operating the entire machine.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring to a preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the rubbish baling apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken generally in the direction of the arrows 22 of FIGURE 1; and,

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic view showing components partly in cross section useful in explaining the hydraulic control system of the invention.

Referring to both FIGURES l and 2, the particular embodiment of the rubbish baling apparatus disclosed would ordinarily constitute a stationary installation at a particular site where rubbish has been collected. As shown, the structure includes a base 10, side walls 11 and 12, top wall 13, front wall 14, and rear wall 15. These walls define a trash or rubbish receiving enclosure. The upper portion of the rear wall 15 includes an enlarged exit door 16 pivoted as at 17 along a vertical edge of the enclosure for outward swinging movement as by means of a bandle 18.

Disposed on either side of the enclosure are first and second hydraulic cylinders 19 and 20, the latter cylinder being illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 2. A cross member 21 is connected to the upper protruding ends of the piston rods from each of these cylinders so that this cross member is raised in a vertical direction upon operation of the cylinders. As best seen in FIGURE 2 and as will become clearer as the description proceeds, the cross member 21 includes lift rods passing downwardly through the top wall 13 to connect to a platform 22 within the enclosure. The arrangement is such that raising of the cross member 21 by means of the first and second side hydraulic cylinders will move the platform 22 upwardly within the enclosure to compress trash against the top wall 13.

Referring again to FIGURES l and 2 together, the side walls of the enclosure include forwardly extending wall portions 23 and 24 and a cooperating swinging door 25 pivoted as at 26 adjacent to a lower longitudinal edge of the enclosure. The hinging of the door is such that it will swing outwardly and downwardly to define an open hopper or trash receiving area 27. Actuation of the door between closed and open positions is accomplished by a third hydraulic cylinder 28.

With particular reference to the front wall portion of FIGURE 2, it will be noted that there are provided a plurality of pivoted lever elements 29. These elements are conveniently provided on rubbish baling apparatus of the type described and serve to hold the rubbish in the upper portion of the enclosure after initially being compressed by the platform 22. Thus, a first portion of rubbish is compressed and subsequently further rubbish is added through the front lower door the same being urged on to the platform 22 upon closing of the door 25 by the third cylinder 28. This added rubbish is then compressed up against the first rubbish, the first rubbish being held by the levers 29 from dropping back down against the platform.

With repetition of the foregoing process, a very tightly packed bale of rubbish is formed and in order to free this bale out of the rear exit door, a suitable ejecting mechanism is necessary.

In accordance with the present invention and still with reference to the central portion of FIGURE 2, this ejecting mechanism includes an ejection bar having an inwardly extending lower portion 30 a central portion pivoted at 31 to the front wall 14 and an upper exteriorly extending portion 32. The structure is thus similar to a bell crank member. As shown in both FIGURES 1 and 2, a flexible connecting means in the form of a chain 33 is secured to the upper portion 32 of the ejection bar and terminates at its lower end in a hook 34. A guide pulley 35 is securely mounted to the lower portion of the front wall 14 immediately above the front door access opening. The central portion of the upper edge of the door itself may include a suitable hook receiving means such as an eyelet 36.

With the foregoing arrangement, it is possible to employ the third hydraulic cylinder 28 as a power means for operating the ejection mechanism. Thus after a bale has been formed in the upper portion of the enclosure, the lower hook 34 of the chain 33 may simply be connected to the eyelet 36 and the hydraulic cylinder 28 operated in a direction to swing the door 25 to its openmost position. This action will exert a tension force on the chain to swing the ejection bar about the pivot 31 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIGURE 2 such that the lower portion 30 will eject the bale shown at 37.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the manner in which the various hydraulic cylinders described in FIGURES 1 and 2 are controlled will become clear. In FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the top cross member 21 connecting to the upper exposed piston rod ends for the first and second hydraulic cylinders 19 and 20 includes downwardly depending lift rods 38 and 39 connecting to the platform 22. With this lifting arrangement, it is important that as near equal forces as possible be applied to the opposite ends of the cross member 21. Towards this end, it is important that the cylinders 19 and 20 be provided with hydraulic fluid under equal pressures. In accord with a second important feature of this invention, these equal pressures are realizable by the hydraulic system as shown in FIGURE 3.

Thus referring to the lower portion of FIGURE 3 the hydraulic system includes a reservoir 40 of hydraulic fluid, a pump 41 connected to the reservoir for supplying hydraulic fluid through a suply line 42. A return hydraulic fluid line 43 connects to the reservoir 40 as shown. The supply lines 42 and 43 both connect to fluid valve controls 44 and 45 as shown. The fluid valve control 44 is manually operable to actuate the lifting cylinders 19 and 20. The fluid valve control 45 is manually operable to actuate the hydraulic cylinder 28.

When the fluid valve control 44 is in a first position, hydraulic fluid will pass from the supply line 42 through an output line 46 to a first split-flow control member 47. The member 47 serves to divide the flow of hydraulic fluid equally to first and second lower hydraulic fluid lines 48 and 49 for passing fluid to the undersides of the pistons in the cylinders 19 and 20 respectively. Fluid in the hydraulic cylinders above the pistons pass out of third and fourth upper fluid hydraulic lines 50 and 51 terminating in a second split-flow control member 52 having a single inlet communicating through a line 53 and valve 44 to the return supply line 43 connected to the reservoir 40.

The first and second lower hydraulic fluid lines 48 and 49 from the first split-flow member 47 are equal in size and are of equal length. Thus, since the flow is divided equally between these lines, there is assured that equal pressure will be provided under the pistons in the lift cylinders 19 and 20 and a uniform upward movement of the cross member 21 and platform 22 will take place. The outflow of fluid will similarly be balanced as a consequence of the second split-flow member 52 and by assuring that the third and fourth upper hydraulic lines 50 and 51 are of equal size and length to the point that they connect to the flow member 52.

Positive downward movement of the cross member 21 and platform 22 can be effected by moving the fluid valve control 44 to a second position wherein the supply line 42 is connected to the fluid line 53 and the return reservoir line 43 is connected to the line 46.

The fluid valve control 45 for the third hydraulic cylinder 28 operates in a similar manner to positively drive the piston within the cylinder in one direction or the other to effect closing or opening of the front door. Towards this end, there is provided a lower input hydraulic line 54 for passing fluid to the underside of the piston in the cylinder 28 when it is desired to close the door, a return upper hydraulic line 55 being provided to return fluid to the reservoir. When the fluid valve control 45 is moved to a second position, the fluid under pressure from the pump in the supply line 42 is passed to the line 55 and return fluid is passed to the reservoir through the line 54 and return line 43. It will be understood, of course, that each of the valves 44 and 45 have a neutral position in which no hydraulic fluid pressure is applied to either side of the various pistons so that the mechanisms operated by the cylinders may remain stationary in any set position. In this respect, there is provided a small return line 56 between the pump and reservoir controlled by a pressure responsive valve such that when a maximum pressure is exceeded, the fluid will be bypassed directly from the pump back to the reservoir.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that only two control valves are necessary to operate the entire rubbish baling apparatus.

The operation of the overall system will be evident from the above description. Initially, the pump is energized by a suitable electrical control panel on the side wall 11 as shown in FIGURE 1. The platform 22, if not already in position, is lowered to its lowermost position within the enclosure. This is accomplished by the control valve 44 being properly positioned to apply hydraulic fluid through the lines 50 and 51 to the upper sides of the pistons in the lift cylinders 19 and 20. The front door 25 is opened by the third cylinder 28 by passing hydraulic fluid through the line 55 to the upper end of the piston within the cylinder.

Trash or rubbish is then deposited in the enlarged hopper-like opening 27 defined by the open door and extended side walls 23 and 24. When this area is filled, the door 25 is closed by the hydraulic cylinder 28, this operation being carried out by changing the position of the fluid valve control 45 of FIGURE 3 such that fluid from the pump is passed through the valve to the line 54. Closing of the door effects some compression on the rubbish and transfers the same to the platform 22.

With the door held closed, the fluid valve control 45 is operated to a position to supply hydraulic fluid to the lines 48 and 49 thereby raising the pistons in the cylinders 19 and 20 and compressing the rubbish between the platform 22 and upper wall 13. The small arcuate shaped levers 29 described in FIGURE 2 will hold this compressed trash against the upper will 13 when the platform 22 is lowered by reversing the flow to the hydraulic cylinders 19 and 20.

After the platform 22 has been lowered, the front door 25 is again swung open and further trash loaded into the hopper area 27. This trash is then transferred to the platform by again closing the door 25 and the platform is then again raised to compress this trash against the first trash held against the top wall 13.

The foregoing steps are repeated until a large bale of highly compressed trash is formed as indicated at 37 in FIGURE 2.

When the upper portion of the enclosure has been substantially filled in the form of the bale, the rear door 16 is swung open by the handle 18 and the lower hook 34 on the chain 33 is hooked to the eyelet 36 on the upper edge of the door 25. The door is then swung open in an outward and downward direction by the hydraulic cylinder 28 to its furthest open position. This action will then rotate the ejection lever 30 to eject the bale 37 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. After ejection of the bale, the chain is unhooked from the door before preparing a subsequent bale.

From the foregoing description, it will thus be evident that the present invention has provided a greatly improved baling apparatus wherein the various objects set forth are fully realized.

What is claimed is:

1. A rubbish baling apparatus including, in combination: a frame structure having top, side, front and rear walls defining a trash receiving enclosure, said front wall including a lower front door hinged along the bottom longitudinal edge portion of said enclosure for outward and downward swinging movement and said rear wall including an upper exit door hinged along a rear vertical edge of said enclosure for outward swinging movement; first and second vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders having pistons and piston rods adjacent to said side walls respectively; a cross member secured to the upper ends of said piston rods; a trash receiving platform within said enclosure; lift rods passing through said top wall and connecting said platform to said cross member so that upward movement of said cross member upon actuation of said first and second hydraulic cylinders compresses trash received on said platform through said front door against said top wall; a third hydraulic cylinder for actuating said front door between open and closed positions;

and an ejecting means including an ejecting bar centrally pivoted to said front wall above said front door for swinging movement such that a lower portion on one side of the pivot swings into said enclosure in response to outward and downward movement of the upper portion on the other side of said pivot, said ejecting means further including a flexible connecting means for connecting said upper portion to the upper edge portion of said front door whereby said third hydraulic cylinder provides power to pivot said ejecting bar upon opening of said door to thereby eject a bale of trash compressed between said platform and top wall out of said exit door after said exit door has been opened.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said first and second hydraulic cylinders include first and second lower hydraulic fluid lines for passing fluid to and from the lower sides of the pistons therein and third and fourth upper hydraulic fluid lines for passing fluid to and from the upper sides of said pistons, said first and second lines being of equal size and length and terminating in a first split-flow control member having a single inlet; a reservoir of hydraulic fluid; a pump for passing fluid from said reservoir under pressure to said single inlet, said third and fourth hydraulic lines being adapted to be placed in communication with said reservoir whereby hydraulic fluid pressures supplied to said first and second cylinders respectively by said pump and first and second hydraulic lines are equal to thereby assure equal lifting pressures on said cross member; a fluid valve control for said front door; and fluid lines connecting from said pump and reservoir to said third hydraulic cylinder through said fluid valve control so that opening and closing of said door is under control of said fluid valve control.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which said third and fourth upper hydraulic fluid lines terminate in a second split-flow control member having a single inlet; and an additional fluid valve control connected to said first and second split-flow control members and said pump and reservoir for passing said fluid from said pump to said first split-flow control member and passing fluid from said second split-flow control member to said reservoir and, upon changing the position of said valve, for passing fluid from said pump to said second split-flow control member and passing fluid from said first splitflow control member to said reservoir, said third and fourth hydraulic lines being of the same size and of equal length so that equal pressures are provided to said cylinders, whereby said baling apparatus is operable by means of only two movably operable hydraulic fluid valve controls.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,976,798 3/1961 Christianson 258 3,195,447 7/1965 Taylor 100218 XR 3,280,727 10/1966 Jonas 100218 XR 3,353,478 11/1967 Hopkins 100215 XR 3,358,590 12/1967 Howard 100218 BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

